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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

When mobile marketing meets mobile reality

Everyone has seen those expensive smartphone commercials that show devices playing crisp videos, slick UI transitions, and smooth touchscreen functionality. And nearly everyone knows that the devices almost never perform as advertised.

One owner of a Nokia N97 decided to do something about it, and created a short YouTube video that shows Nokia's marketing fantasy contrasted with his own painful experience using the N97 interface and browsing the Web (turn down your computer's volume before hitting play):

It's not just the UI, either. The last 30 seconds of the video list some major functionality problems this owner has experienced.

The N97 is now old news but the advertising for newer phones still relies on simulations, rather than the actual experience users will see. Caveat mobilius emptor!